I'm still here...

I haven't posted anything since November...what a slacker! Life has been really crazy the last 2 or 3 months. I had issues with my pregnancy in the beginning and was on and off bedrest for about 6 weeks. Thankfully everything is great now and we are expecting another baby boy in June. We can only hope and pray that Andrew quits acting like a maniac by that time. (I'm not going to hold my breath) I have also been working on a home business and it's going a lot slower than planned. I quit my job in September and purchased the equipment and supplies to start a vinyl cutting business. I have a website domain and a lot of plans and ideas, I just need to make it happen. My web designer (Dave) also happens to be very busy with school and work. I'm really excited to be home all day with my kids (most days) and know this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Hopefully we can get everything running soon. Keep checking for my website to be up and running: www.vinyldesignshop.com I will post some recent pictures of latest birthdays, events, etc. soon.

Christmas is Coming!

I'm in a Christmasy mood...only 37 days and counting. I look forward to this time of year almost year round. It's such a fabulous, wonderful season. There's something magical about it that I still feel after 31 years. I honestly don't know if the kids or I get more excited. Each year I try to have my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving so that I can just sit back and enjoy the next month of festive fun. I have 4 more gifts to purchase and I'll be done. Let the wrapping bliss begin. Wrapping is one of my favorite Christmas activities. My children have definitely inherited my Christmas fever. Hannah asked me this morning, "Mom, how can I wait any longer for Santa to come? I just love Christmas!" I love being together with family, I love watching someone open a gift that I am so excited to give, I love watching my kids come down the stairs on Christmas morning, and I love remembering and feeling what Christmas is all about.

Halloween

I know Halloween was 2 weeks ago, but I haven't blogged in forever and it seemed like a good place to start again. We had a really fun Halloween this year. We had non-stop activities the week leading up to it. I'm posting a few of the highlights. I love carving pumpkins, so we always do this for the family home evening before Halloween. Here are the kids showing off their work. Meggan had us over for a yummy spaghetti dinner and a visit to the local Shelley pumpkin patch. Here are some pics of the kids with the cousins. We had a great time.

The kids humored me this year and were willing to be a Steelers player and cheerleader. They were actually excited about it after I hyped it up for a couple of weeks. But, Hannah had a little Halloween party at preschool and wanted to be Tinkerbell. So, since it's too cold in Idaho to trick-or-treat as Tinkerbell and because she wanted to be a Steelers cheerleader with her football player brother, we compromised. She was Tinkerbell at her school party and a cheerleader for trick-or-treating.

Hannah and Andrew before trick-or-treating...the older kids were with friends cuz they're too cool for us these days. They actually got to trunk-or-treating at our church and then trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. They made a haul this year! :0)

Tag...Longest post ever!

I have been tagged by Meggan and Melissa (a very long long time ago)

I: Amanda Jo Reading
I am: really tired today
I think: about everything way too much
I know: that the church is true
I want: my kids to be happy
I wish: I had a better metabolism
I hate: migraine headaches
I miss: My grandparents
I fear: for my children in this evil world
I feel: a touch nauseated
I hear: Nothing
I smell: Cinnamon cider scentsy
I crave: a banana creamy...I've wanted one of these for like the past week. I called Dave to have him pick one up for me after work.
I search: constantly for missing things in my chaotic home.
I wonder: if Obama will be a decent president
I regret: not finishing my bachelor's degree with only one semester to go (it's never too late, right)
I love: My family
I care about: things too deeply and then I get overwhelmed.
I always: time myself when I brush my teeth
I am not: as limber as I used to be (I was doing cartwheels with Hannah a couple weeks ago and I almost broke in half)
I believe: our country will get out of the slump that it's in
I dance: ...with my kids
I sing: constantly and usually with my kids
I don't always: bite my tongue when I should
I write: as little as possible with my carpal tunnel syndrome
I win: and then I gloat (I'm a soar winner)
I lose: and then I pout (I'm also a soar loser) At least I can admit it, right. :0)
I never: thought I would be in my 30's :0)
I listen: to the TV during the day, but I very rarely watch it.
I can usually be found: driving my children here and there and everywhere
I am scared of: bad things happening to my kids
I need: a nap (I'm with Meggan on that)
I am happy about: my new home business and being able to stay home with my kids

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:15 (I was a touch on the sleepy (and sick) side this morning.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds for sure
3.What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Madagascar 2
4. What is your favorite TV show? Boston Legal and Grey's Anatomy
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? soda crackers and 7-Up
6. What is your middle name? Jo
7. What food do you dislike? tomatoes
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? Twilight Soundtrack
9. What kind of car do you drive? Suburban
10. Favorite sandwich? Turkey and bacon (I agree with Meggan)
11. What characteristics do you despise? self-righteousness
12. Favorite item of clothing? Sweaters (one of the reasons I look forward to winter)
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Scotland because I'm obssessed with it and Dominican Republic because Dave served his mission there.
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Liz & Co...I think they're cute and I can usually wear a size smaller in these than anything else, so they make me feel skinnier. (Deep down I know that they're really just sized differently)
15. Where would you retire to? I'm not even really sure where I'll live in 2 years...but Dave and I have talked a little about ending up in Pittsburgh.
16. What was your most memorable birthday? My first surprise party when I was in the 2nd grade.
17. Favorite sport to watch? Football, of course
18. When is your birthday? 9/16/77
19. Are you a morning person or a night person? night...I stay up way too late
20. What is your shoe size? 7 1/2...it was 6 1/2 before I had kids, but it went up half a size with each pregnancy. It better not happen this time...we'll see.
21. Pets? none right now...I work on Dave occassionally, again...we'll see.
22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I'm pregnant (about 8 weeks), but my kids don't know yet, so please don't tell them, since you all talk to my kids so often. :0)
23. What did you want to be when you were little? Mostly a mommy and a teacher.
24. What is your favorite candy? Hmmm, so many to choose from. But, I'd have to say a Heath bar. (I think) or maybe Butterfinger, except Almond Joys are pretty yummy. But sometimes I really want a Milky Way, and when the mood strikes, a Reese Peanut Butter Cup. Okay, so I eat way too much chocolate.
25. What is your favorite flower? lilies
26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Thanksgiving, Christmas, and June 29 (my due date)
27. What are you listening to right now? Nothing... my house is blissfully silent because my children are actully napping
28. What was the last thing you ate? grilled ham and cheese sandwich
29. Do you wish upon stars? very often
30. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red...it's my favorite color
31. How is the weather right now? beautiful...a little nip in the air with a beautiful clear sky and no wind...the way I wish it was year round
32. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? sil Bonny
33. Favorite soft drink? Currently Cherry Coke (I go through phases)
34. Favorite restaurant? Texas Roadhouse
35. What was your favorite toy as a child? Probably Barbies (like Meggan...we usually played with them together). I also really loved Legos
36. Summer or winter? Winter...not a huge fan of the heat and I love winter activities...snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, and just good old-fashioned sledding. I also love wearing sweaters, Christmas, and drinking hot chocolate.
37. Hugs or kisses? Both, but I'm pretty selective about who I'll dish them out to...I'm not a very touchy person. And, I'll only kiss 3 people...Dave and my 2 children.
38. Chocolate or Vanilla? Usually vanilla...I love chocolate, but I don't care for chocolate flavored things...kind of weird.
39. Coffee or tea? Neither
40. Do you want your friends to answer these questions on their blogs? yes
41. When was the last time you cried? This morning and I don't even remember why. It was probably about something stupid because my pregnancy hormones are in full throttle.
42. What is under your bed? My box of gift wrapping stuff and Dave's Christmas presents. He is not a snooper. I only have to tell him not to look and he won't. We're very different in this regard. :0)
43. What did you do last night? Cleaned my house after everyone was in bed, watched Grey's Anatomy, cried a little about something stupid, and then went to bed.
44. What are you afraid of? the evils my children have to face in this world
45. Salty or sweet? I'm a fan of both, but I crave sweet more often.
46. How many keys on your key ring? 3
47. How many years at your current job? I quit my last job about 2 months ago, but if you count my little home business...about 1 month
48. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
49. How many towns have you lived in? 15ish...I moved a lot between 18 and 23.
50. Do you make friends easily? depends on the setting

Back to Preschool

Hannah went back to school today. She's starting her 2nd year of preschool and she was so excited! She has had her outfit picked out for the last 3 weeks. Actually, she's had her first 6 outfits picked out for the last 3 weeks, with clothes, socks, underwear, belts, shoes, accessories, hair bows, and earrings! She is such a girlie girl!!!

Hannah loves to learn. She's starting to sound out words and she's constantly asking me to sit down with her to help her learn more words. It makes me happy that she enjoys learning new things. She tells me that she can't wait until she can read books to Andrew. She's growing up way too fast! Ugh!

Preschool has been really good for her. She missed her older siblings so much when they would go to school. It's been really fun for her to meet some of her own little friends.

Football Season...

Football season starts in 2 days and I just had to share my excitement... I love football! I love the NFL and football season! I love the Pittsburgh Steelers! I love the thrill of the game and I look forward to each Sunday when the race to the playoffs continues. I love going to football parties and watching games with my husband! Okay, okay, I'll stop myself there. I admit I'm not just "one of the guys." I squeal, scream, and jump up and down during the big games. I comment on the cuteness of the players and their bums in tight pants (with a subsequent eye roll from Dave). I have sequins on my Steelers gear and some of it is pink. I make scrapbook pages of my favorite football moments. And, I usually feel just a little bit sad for the losing team (but don't tell anybody). But a person, after hearing all of this, can still not question my fanhood. I know the ins and outs of the game. I can quote stats with the best of them. I know the divisions, the divisional leaders, the best defensive and offensive players, and I know which match ups will be the most exciting to watch. I know the Steelers schedule and have my weekend or Monday night planned around watching them. I watch each play of every game I watch, and I usually have my nails bitten off before the end. I'm on NFL.com daily to hear the latest in football news. I LOVE the game. I live and breathe the game each season. And while I insist on retaining my femininity in my quest for ultimate fanhood, I can't help but feel just a touch smug with maybe a twings of pride when someone says, "Wow, she really knows her stuff." And, I think that maybe I really wouldn't mind being though of as just "one of the guys."

First Day of School

First Day of Junior High...

First Day of High School...



Rachel and Becca started school today...they were both pretty nervous and excited this morning. They're both starting in new schools this year...Becca's a freshman so it's her first day at high school. Rachel's in 7th grade, so it's her first day in junior high. It's a big day for both of them. I thought they both looked so darn cute today. They have their own styles...their personalities shine through in the way that they dress. Becca's our sporty girl and Rachel's our little rocker chic. I love that they are true to themselves and they are who they are. They're both wonderful girls. They're responsible, they work hard, and they are extremely sweet to their siblings. We sure love them a lot! They've made being a stepmom pretty darn easy! :0)